Apple has acknowledged a problem with the sleep/wake key, better known as the power button, on a certain number of iPhone 5's manufactured through March 2013. As a result, the company has announced the iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button Replacement Program, which will replace the power button mechanism, free of charge, for certain iPhone 5 models.

Since you'll be be without a phone for a few days, you can request for a loaner at participating Apple Retail Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers. You'll receive an iPhone 5 (16GB only), and you'll be notified once your iPhone is ready to be picked up.

Snail Mail

If you mail it in, you'll have to call Apple and request a prepaid postage box, which you can use to send your iPhone in to the local Apple Repair Center. Your device will be examined for eligibility, and once it's fixed, sent back to you via mail.

Both replacement processes take approximately four to six days from the time your iPhone is received at the repair center.

Note: If there is damage to your iPhone that might affect the replacement of the sleep/wake button, you'll have to take care of that before handing it over.

Additional Information

Apple may restrict or limit repair to the original country of purchase.

Your iPhone 5 must be in full working order to qualify.

If you paid for a replacement due to this issue, you can get a refund from Apple.

If you're jailbroken, Apple may not accept your iPhone. In the case that they do accept it, your jailbreak will be wiped away by the iOS 7.1 update.

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